tihvavy  of  €he  theological  ^tmimvy 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 


•3^1 


PRESENTED  BY 

The  Estate  of 
Victor^H.  Lukens 
B V  4253  . C8 r 18 74 
Cullis,  Charles. 
The  king  of  love 


THE    KING    OF    LOVE. 


/ 


THE  KING  OF  LO 


BY    THE    AUTHOR    OF 
"HOW  TO  ENTER  INTO  REST,"  Etc, 


JE  MEURS  OU  JE  M'ATTACHE. 


WILLARD   TRACT   REPOSITORY, 

12    WEST    STREET,     BOSTON. 
239  Fourth  Ave.,  New  York. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1874,  by 

CHARLES    CULLIS, 
In  the  OfSce  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


TO   THE  MEMORY 


OF 


HIS   GREAT  GOODNESS. 


"If  we  hope   for  that  we  see  not,  then  do  we  with 
patience  wait  for  it." — Rom.  viii.  25. 

*'  Though  it  tarry,  wait  for  it,  it  will  surely  come." 


PREFACE. 


TT  seems  to  me  there  is  one  great  ring 
throughout  the  world  ;  throughout  all 
nature;  throughout  the  universe;  one 
commanding  influence  to  which  above 
every  other  our  hearts  turn  and  obey. 
One  strong  cord  which  knits  and  knots 
all  the  other  cords  that  bind  our  life  ;  one 
sound  that  vibrates  above  and  through 
every  other ;  one  ray  of  light  that  gives 
light  by  which  to  see  all  others;  one 
note  of  music  which  harmonizes  every 
other;  one  centre  to  which  all  must 
converge. 

Is  it  love  ? 

'VLove  is  born  of  God." 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP. 

PAGE 

I.    HIMSELF 

• 

3 

II.   WE  TO   HJM 

15 

II.    WITHIN    US.    . 

-»J 

IV.    BESIDE   US      . 

31 

V.   AROUND   US 

45 

VI.    IN   STILLNESS 

61 

VII.   JOY   IN    HIM 

69 

VIII.   PEACE     . 

83 

IX.   THE   NEW   HOME   . 

• 

.      91 

B 


"The  King  of  lov<  ray  Shepherd  is, 
Whose  goodness  faileth  never ; 
Nothing  I  lack,  if  I  am  His, 
And  He  is  mine  for  ever.'* 


HIMSELF 

"To  know  the  love  of  Christ." — Eph.  iii.  19. 

j^IMSELF,  Jesus  Himself;  Human, 
Divine ;  God  and  Man ;  the  One, 
in  whom  alone,  whatever  is  divine  within 
us  can  find  satisfaction  ;  the  One,  towards 
whom  our  poor  human  nature  stretches 
out  its  hands,  and  cries  for  deliverance 
and  rest  and  peace ;  this  One — He  is  the 
King  of  Love ;  He  is  God  ;  God  is  Love. 
Oh,  what  a  God  is  this  God  of  ours  ! 
How  does  His  love  never  weary,  never 
tire,  never  faint !  Has  He  not  grown 
foot-sore  with  following  the  straying 
sheep  in  the  wilderness  r  Is  not  His 
shoulder  yet  weary  with  the  burden  of 
carrying  them   to   the   fold  ?      Has  not 


4  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

the  pain  yet  caused  Him  to  forget  to  re- 
joice ?  Is  this  Shepherd,  weary  and  worn, 
with  bleeding  feet  and  aching  limbs, 
journeying  to  the  highest  heights,  pur- 
suing to  the  lowest  depths,  is  He  a  King  ? 
Who  but  the  Highest  of  all  could 
venture  to  the  lowest  ?  Who  but  Love 
could  hear  such  slights,  such  rebuffs  ? 
What  but  the  mighty  tenderness  of  God 
Himself  could  thus  seek  and  thus  Jind  ? 

Ah !  we  can  but  imagine,  we  can  but 
guess,  we  can  but  reach  out  towards 
this  love  ;  and  3^et  it  cati  penetrate  our 
inmost  soul.  Oh,  to  know  it !  Oh,  to 
have  it  for  our  own  ! 

Let  us  turn  often  and  watch  this  won- 
drous thing.  Let  us  gaze  and  gaze,  till 
it  enters  deeply  within  our  soul. 

And  first  let  us  consider,  wherein  has 
it  shown  itself  r 

..."  See,  His  hands  are  nailed,  they 
cannot  strike  thee ;  His  feet  also,  He 
cannot  run  from  thee ;  His  arms  are 
wide  open  to  embrace  thee ;  His  head 
hangs  down  to  kiss  thee  ;  His  very  heart 


HIMSELF.  5 

is  open,  so  that  therein,  see,  look,  spy, 
behold,  and  thou  shalt  see  nothing  but 
love,  love,  love  to  thee  ;  hide  thee  there- 
fore, lay  thy  head  there  with  the  Evan- 
gelist. This  is  the  cleft  of  the  rock 
wherein  Elias  stood.  This  is  the  pillow 
of  down  for  all  aching  heads.  Anoint 
thy  head  with  this  oil ;  let  this  ointment 
embalm  thy  head,  and  wash  thy  face. 
Tarry  thou  here,  and  quite  sure  art  thou 
I  warrant  thee.  Say  with  Paul,  Who 
can  separate  me  from  the  love  of  God  r 
Can  death,  can  poverty,  sickness,  hunger 
or  any  misery  persuade  thee  that  God 
loves  thee  not  ?  Nay,  nothing  can  sepa- 
rate thee  from  the  love  wherewith  God 
hath  loved  thee  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  whom 
He  loveth.  He  loveth  unto  the  end."* 

"  Hereby  perceive  we  the  love  of  God, 
because  He  laid  down  His  life  for  us." 
(i  John  iii.  i6.) 

''  I  am  the  Good  Shepherd,  the  Good 
Shepherd  giveth  His  life  for  the  sheep." 
(John  X.  II.) 

*  Bradford. 


6  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

This  is  the  love  of  the  Son  ;  the  be- 
loved Son,  in  whom  the  Father  is  well- 
pleased  ;  the  only  begotten  ;  the  bright- 
ness of  God's  glory,  and  the  express 
image  of  His  person. 

How  came  it  then,  that  such  an  one — 
precious,  beloved,  one  with  the  Father, 
gave  His  life  ?  gave  it  for  enemies  and 
murderers  ;  children  of  darkness  and  dis- 
obedience r 

Surely  we  should   have  snatched  our 
dearest  one  from  such  a  lot ;    it  would 
have  been  far  easier  to  bear  the  bitter- 
ness and  shame  oneself  than  to  see  them 
suffer.     But  God — let   His  well- beloved 
go  ;  even  sent  Him  ;  and  to  what  a  fear- 
ful,  what   an    awful   change !      From    a 
home  of    light  to  a   land   of  darkness ; 
from    before   the   face   of    Love    to   the 
hatred    of    wicked    men  ;     from    power 
to    weakness  ;     from    glory    to    shame  ; 
from  honour  to  ignominy;  from  majesty 
and    life    to     drink    the    bitter    death- 
cup  to   the  very  dregs.      How  could   it 
ber 


HIMSELF,  7 

It  is  the  mystery  of  Love  to  which  no 
heart  has  ever  yet  pierced  ;  but  every 
heart  that  has  embraced  it  for  its  own, 
vibrates,  struck  by  the  same  chord,  as  it 
dwells  on  the  Oneness  of  the  Father  and 
the  vSon — the  One  God  who  is  Love,  and 
then  reads  : — 

"  The  Father  sent  the  Son  to  be  the 
Saviour  of  the  world."  (i  John  iv.  14.) 

Oh,  what  majesty,  what  depths,  what 
length  and  breadth  and  height,  in  these 
simple  words ;  what  oneness  of  purpose, 
what  perfection  of  love,  what  fellowship 
of  the  spirit.  And  this  God  is  our  God. 
This  love  is  for  us.  He  wishes  us  to  be 
very  personal,  to  make  no  mistake  about 
it,  therefore  He  tells  us, — *'  I  have  loved 
thee  with  an  everlasting  love,"  (Jer.  xxxi. 
3),  and  that  we  may  not  say  it  is  too 
mighty  for  us  to  know,  in  another 
place  He  specially  speaks  of  it  in  His 
human  nature,  *'  I  drew  them  with  the 
cords  of  a  man,  with  bands  of  love." 
'Hos.  xi.  4.) 

No,  it  is  not  too  mighty ;  it  is  not  too 


8  THE  KING  OF  LOVE. 

tender;  we  need  it  all;  we  little  know 
ho7v  we  need  it. 

It  is  beyond  us,  and  away  from  us, 
outside  us  and  around  us,  spreading  far 
and  near,  overflowing  its  borders,  stretch- 
ing wider  than  ocean's  reach,  encompas- 
sing the  earth,  brooding  over  this  sin- 
stricken  world,  inhabiting  eternity,  and 
■yet — and  yet  there  is  a  home  for  us  in  its 
very  centre ;  the  only  home  where  rest  is 
to  be  found  ;  the  only  centre  from  which 
we  shall  never  wish  to  spring,  even  in 
the  very  heart  of  our  Lord.  "  Abide  in 
7ne," 

And  as  if  this— think  of  it— as  if  this 
were  not  enough  ;  He,  Love,  looks  down, 
— perhaps  with  that  blessed,  tender,  piti- 
ful look,  that  we  fancy  He  must  have 
laid  on  the  little  children,  the  disciples 
would  have  sent  away  from  Him — He 
looks  down,  and  what  does  He  see  r  A 
heart,  evil  and  defiled,  miserable  and 
poor  and  wretched  ;  and  as  if  He  had 
not  yet  bestowed  enough.  He  adds, — 
'*  And  I  myou," 


HIMSELF.  9 

Is  it  not  wonderful  ? 

"  Abide  in  me,"  to  show  us  His 
beauty ;  "  and  I  in  you,"  to  make  us 
beautiful  for  Himself.  And  when  w^e 
know  this,  we  know  a  little,  just  a  little 
of  what  it  means  when  it  says, — "The 
King  brought  me  into  His  chambers." 
(Cant.  i.  4.)  Into  the  heart  that  bled  and 
broke  for  me,  into  the  heart  that  suffered 
and  died  for  me,  into  the  heart  where 
"  love  strong  as  death  " — (Cant.  viii.  6) ; 
broke  the  bands  of  death,  and  rose  tri- 
umphant over  the  grave,  and  lives  at 
God's  right  hand,  until  the  church.  His 
bride,  whom  He  loved,  and  for  whom  He 
gave  Himself — sanctified  and  cleansed 
— shall  be  presented  unto  Himself;  a 
glorious  church,  not  having  spot  or 
wrinkle  or  any  such  thing,  but  holy 
and  without  blemish  (Eph.  iv.  25,  27); 
and  He  shall  come  forth  crowned,  "  in 
the  day  of  the  gladness  of  His  heart" 
(Cant.  iii.  11);  and  shall  "see  of  the 
travail  of  His  soul,  and  be  satisfied** 
(Is.  liii.) 


10  THE  KING  OF  LOVE. 

Is  not  this  blessed  to  look  for,  and  all 
through  Him  ?  does  it  not  make  us  long 
ever  more  earnestly  to  know  '*  the  King  in 
His  beauty?"  (Is.  xxxiii.  i.  7),  to  "know 
the  love  of  Christ,  which  passeth  know- 
ledge ?"  (Eph.  iii.  19.)  Oh  !  what  a  King 
to  serve,  where  He  Himself  is  Love,  and 
the  service  all  love  ;  and  where,  the 
more  we  gaze,  the  more  we  know  and 
feel  His  love.  What  can  Ave  say  of 
Him? 

"  My  Beloved  is  white  and  ruddy,  the 
chiefest  among  ten  thousand.  His  head 
is  as  the  most  fine  gold ;  His  locks  are 
bushy  and  black  as  a  raven  ;  His  eyes 
are  as  the  eyes  of  doves  by  the  rivers  of 
water,  washed  with  milk  and  fitly  set. 
His  cheeks  as  a  bed  of  spices,  as  sweet 
flowers;  His  lips  like  lilies,  dropping 
sweet-smelling  myrrh.  .  .  His  counte- 
nance is  as  Lebanon,  excellent  as  the 
cedars ;  His  mouth  is  most  sweet ;  yea, 
He  is  altogether  lovely.''  (Cant.  v.  10,  &c.) 
And  the  New  Testament  can  find  no 
fuller  or  more  perfect  description,  and  so 


HIMSELF.  1 1 

sums  all  up  in  a  short  word,  and  calls 
Him  : — "  The  pearl  of  great  price."  Is 
it  not  enough  that  "This  is  my  beloved, 
and  this  is  my  friend  ? "  (Cant.  v.  1 6.) 


II, 


"  Lord  Jesus,  if  I  cannot  say 

That  I  have  love  to  Thee  ; 
Do  thou,  I  pray  Thee,  day  by  day, 

Reveal  thy  love  to  me." 

"When  the  heart  says,  sighing  to  be  approved, 
*0h,  that  I  loved,' and  stops — God  answers,  'Loved.'" 

"Oh  Lord,  let  that  become  possible  to  me  by  Thy 
grace,  which  by  nature  seems  impossible  to  me." — 
Thomas  a  Kej^pis. 


WE   TO   HIM. 

"  To  know  the  love  of  Christ,  which  passeth  knowledge." 
Eph.  iii.  19. 

A  ND  if  this  is  our  Pearl,  how  must  we 
set  it  ? 

No  two  people  will  set  a  jewel  pre- 
cisely in  the  same  manner;  yet,  if  they 
have  any  just  appreciation  of  it,  their 
object  will  be  the  same.  They  will 
strive  to  give  it  such  a  setting  as  will 
make  the  gazer  forget  that  it  is  set — 
lost  in  admiration  of  the  gem. 

Such  must  be  our  aim,  our  desire, 
our  fervent  longing.  The  life  that  is 
bestowed  upon  us  must  be  gathered  up 
so  close  to  the  Pearl,  that  the  frail  set- 
ting will  be  forgotten,  in  the  lights  and 


1 6  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

shades    and    glory   that    the   gem    will 
cast  over  it. 

Therefore  we  come  to  this — that  all 
our  life  must  be  love^  feeble  and  poor 
though  it  be,  and  unworthy  the  name 
of  love ;  yet  in  the  eyes  of  the  King,  it 
is  the  most — the  only — fit  setting  for  the 
Pearl ;  and  the  soft  lustre  that  spreads 
from  the  jewel  will  extend  over  the  set- 
ting, glorifying  it  with  its  own  light. 

'*  Oh,  wonderful,  that  Thou  should'st  let 
So  vile  a  heart  as  mine 
Love  Thee  with  such  a  love  as  this, 
And  make  so  free  with  Thine."  * 

Let  us  see  what  one  of  old  says  of 
this  love  of  God  in  the  heart : — "  The 
noble  love  of  Jesus  impels  a  man  to  do 
great  things,  and  stirs  him  up  to  be 
always  longing  for  what  is  more  perfect ; 
nothing  is  sweeter  than  love;  nothing 
more  courageous,  nothing  higher,  no- 
thing wider,  nothing  more  pleasant, 
nothing  fuller  nor  better  in  heaven  and 

*  Fnber. 


Wi:  TO  HIM.  17 

earth,  because  love  is  born  of  God,  and 
cannot  rest  but  in  God  above  all  created 
things.  He  that  loveth,  flieth,  runneth, 
and  rejoiceth  ;  he  is  free,  and  is  not 
bound.  He  giveth  all  for  all,  because 
he  resteth  in  One  highest  above  all 
things,  from  whom  all  that  is  good 
flows  and  proceeds."  " 

Do  you  know  something  of  this  r  Do 
you  k-now  what  it  is  to  have  your  very 
soul  athirst  for  the  love  of  God  r  to 
stretch  out  your  hands  eagerly  that  they 
may  be  filled  with  the  love  of  Christ, 
good  measure,  pressed  down,  and  run- 
ning over,  till  men  shall  turn  to  gaze, 
and  whisper  that  "you  have  been  with 
Jesus?"   (Acts.  iv.  13.) 

Perhaps  the  answer  comes,  that  you 
know  the  thirsting,  and  the  stretching 
out  for  fullness,  but  you  do  not  know 
what  it  is  to  be  filled ;  you  are  weary 
with    seeking,   and   are  fain  to  cry  out. 

Oh,  that  I  had  wings  like  a  dove,  for 

*  Thomas  a  Kempis. 
C 


iC 


i8  THE  KING  OF  LOVE. 

then  would  I  flee  away  and  be  at 
rest.''  (Ps.  Iv.  6.)  Listen  then,  ''  But 
the  dove   found  no  rest  for  the   sole   of 

her  foot,  and  she  returned  unto  him 

then  he  put  forth  his  hand,  and  took 
her  and  pulled  her  in  unto  Jiiin''  (Gen. 
viii.  9.) 

That  is  where  you  will  find  the  rest 
of  love,  tired,  longing  soul ;  not  in  turn- 
ing to  weep  over  your  poor  store ;  not 
in  summing  up  what  you  have,  or  have 
not,  of  love ;  not  in  gazing  at  the  empti- 
ness, and  only  longing  for  what  should 
be  there.  Not  in  any  of  these  things ; 
but  in  resolutely  turning  away  from  all 
the  goodness,  as  well  as  from  all  the 
badness  in  you ;  in  turning  away  from 
all  the  love  in  you,  as  much  as  from  all 
the  want  of  love,  and  instead  of  that, 
— "Beholding,  as  in  a  glass,  the  glory 
of  the  Lord ;  "  for  then  comes  the  change 
in  self,  and  ''We  ....  are  changed  into 
the  same  image,  as  by  the  spirit  of  the 
Lord."   (2  Cor.  iii.  18.) 

It  is  by  gazing  into  LLts  face,  that  we 


WF  TO  HIM.  ,9 

learn  His  love,  and  that  at  last  our  own 
heart  responds,  and  finds  that  it  can 
pour  out  love  and  thanks,  and  we  are 
rr'ady  to  say,  as  the  disciples,  "  Did  not 
our  heart  burn  within  us  w^hile  He 
talked  with  us  by  the  way,  and  while 
He  opened  to  us  the  scriptures  ?  "  (Luke 
xxiv.  -^2.)  Only,  that  with  us,  it  may  be 
for  ever  the  present,  and  not  the  past^  for 
when  he  vanished  from  earthly  sight,  and 
ascended  on  high.  He  left  us  this  blessed 
assurance  of  His  certain  and  continual 
presence,  "/.<?,  /  am  zvith  you  alzvays." 
(^lat.  xxviii.  19.' 

And  this  blessed  life  has  no  end ; 
blessed  indeed,  because  full  of  love,  and 
therefore  growing  ever  more  perfectly 
in  the  '*  Holiness  without  which  no  man 
shall  see  the  Lord."  (Heb.  xii.  14.) 
Abiding  in  Him  and  he  in  us,  our  path 
becomes  '*as  a  shining  light,  shining 
more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day." 
(Pro.  iv.  18.)  And  we  begin  to  know  the 
truth  of  those  lines  in  the  "Rhythm  of 
St.  Bernard,"  applying  them  to  our  life 


20  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

in  Christ,  our  knowledge  of  Him,  our 
love  and  satisfaction  in  Him  : — 

**  Oh  thirst  for  ever  ardent, 
Yet,  evermore  content.''^ 

Do  you  understand  it  ?  do  you  know  it  ? 
I  think  you  must ;  surely  it  is  growing,  it 
is  nearing,  it  is  coming. 

"  The  love  of  Jesus  what  it  is, 
None  but  His  loved  ones  know." 

And  you  being  a  loved  one,  have  already 
begun  your  share  in  knowing  what  it  is 
prayed  that  "  the  Father  would  grant 
you ;  ....  to  know  the  love  of  Chi'isty 
which  passeth  knowledge."  Oh,  won- 
drous prayer,  and  yet  not  wondrous,  for 
it  comes  to  us  from  the  heart  of  God  ; 
an  inspiration  of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  and 
you,  having  heard  the  loving  voice  of 
Jesus  once,  can  never,  will  never,  rest 
till  you  hear  it  always.  But  we  have  yet 
something  to  learn  of  the  manner  in 
which  this  love  comes  to  us ;  ratner,  it 
is  already  come  to  us ;  let  us  ser;  more 
then  of  the  way  in  which  it  corr.ei  tt^  u<i 


III. 


God  is  never  so  far  off, 

As  evtn  to  be  near; 
He  dwells  within,  our  spirit  is 

The  home  He  holds  most  dear. 

To  think  of  Him  as  by  our  side, 

Is  almost  as  untrue 
As  to  remove  His  throne,  beyond 

Those  skies  of  starry  blue. 

So  all  the  while  I  thought  myself 
«   Homeless,  forlorn  and  weary  I 
Missing  my  joy,  I  walked  the  earth, 
Myself  God's  Sanctuary." 

Fai}?:r. 

I  Cor.  iii.  i6. 


WITHIN  US. 

"The  love  of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts,  by  the 
Holy  Spirit  which  is  given  unto  us."— RoM.  v.  5. 

TTERE  is  the  great  secret— the  great 
force — the  constraining  influence 
which  draws  out  our  heart  in  love  to 
Christ ;  and  love  to  Him  can  come  out 
of  our  poor,  weak,  evil  heart,  for  it  comes 
just  in  the  same  way  as  all  the  other 
Christian  graces— that  is,  it  is  God's  love, 
which  we  receive  from  Him,  to  return  to 
Him,  and  He  accepts  it  as  our  very  own 
gift. 

It  is  not  that  we  have  a  scanty  supply 

of  love   ourselves,  and   must   diligently 

'  trade  with  that  and  make  it  more  ;  no,  it 

is   a   divine,  spiritual  love,  which  is  of 


24  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

God,  and  yet  dwells  with  us — "The  love 
of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts  by 
the  Holy  Spirit."  (Rom.  v.  5.) 

Could  we  receive  it  in  a  more  precious 
way  ?  God's  own  love,  and  it  is  shed 
into  our  hearts  by  the  blessed  Holy 
Spirit. 

And  how  does  He  bring  God's  love 
into  our  heart,  making  it  so  one  with  us, 
that  we  can  give  it  back  to  Him  as  our 
own  ?  Not  by  occupying  us  with  our- 
selves, with  what  we  have  or  have  not, 
but  thus, — He  takes  of  the  things  of 
Jesus  and  shows  them  unto  us — "He 
shall  receive  of  mine,  and  shall  show  it 
unto  you  ....  He  shall  take  of  mine, 
and  shall  show  it  unto  you."  (John  xvi. 

14,  15O 

We  cannot  be  looking  at  two  things  at 
the  same  moment — not  at  ourself  and  at 
Christ ;  and  we  read  that  the  Holy  Spirit 
convinces  of  "  sin  "  those  who  "  believe 
not ; "  but,  having  believed,  it  seems 
to  me,  His  great  work  is  to  reveal  the 
Lord  Jesus  to  us,  and  the  more  clearly 


WITHIN  US.  25 

and  fully  we  see  and  know  Him,  the 
more  clearly  and  fully  do  we  see  all 
else. 

There  is,  and  always  will  be,  an  under- 
current of  the  knowledge  of  our  sinful 
nature  and  past  sins  ;  but  if  we  stop  to 
gaze  at  these,  will  it  not  weaken  and 
unnerve  us  ?  Perhaps  with  you  it  is  a 
great  grief  that,  since  knowing  Christ  as 
your  Saviour,  you  do  not  feel  your  past 
sins  more  deeply ;  you  think  that  if  only 
you  were  more  conscious  of  the  exceed- 
ing sinfulness  of  sin,  and  of  your  own 
sins  in  particular,  it  would  fill  you  with 
love  to  Him  who  has  redeemed  you,  and 
that  on  the  other  hand,  if  you  had  real 
deep  love  to  Him,  that  would  bring  you 
under  deep  conviction  of  sin. 

Both  are  needed,  but  they  will  not 
come  in  seeking  for  them  as  for  things 
by  themselves  ;  but  the  more  we  know 
Christ  Himself,  the  more  shall  we  love 
Him,  and  the  more  shall  we  shrink  away 
from  everything  that  is  hateful  and  dis- 
pleasing to  Him. 


26  THE  KING  OF  LOVE. 

Do  we  not  need,  and  shall  we  not  seek 
a  special  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
within  us  r  How  do  we  know  what  He 
will  not  work  upon  us  and  in  us — to 
what  new  and  lovely  paths  He  will  lead 
us  ;  for,  following  Him,  delivering  our- 
selves  up  to    Him,   "the   heart 

launches  out  on  the  boundless  ocean  of 
the  love  of  God.  It  comes  to  'know 
the  love  of  Christ,'  of  which  yet  it  is 
conscious  that  it  *  passeth  knowledge/ 
Hungering  and  thirsting  for  righteous- 
ness, it  has  come  to  know  Jesus,  and 
been  *  filled,'  and  yet  never  did  it  know 
such  quenchless  yearnings  for  a  holier 
life  ; '  *  perfect/  yet  *  not  already  per- 
fected ; '  *  satisfied,'  yet  *  hungering  and 
thirsting ; '  at  rest,  yet  *  earnestly  con- 
tending;' knowing  the  love  of  Christ, 
yet  panting  to  comprehend  what  is  its 
breadth,  and  length,  and  depth,  and 
height ;  always  rejoicing,  yet  sorrowful ; 
an  inward  knowledge  of  God  has  solved 
all  the  paradoxes  of  His  Word."* 

*  Walking  in  the  Light— R.  P.  S. 


WITHIN  US.  27 

Ah,  St.  Paul  well  knew  what  He  was 
saying  when  He  told  the  brethren  to 
*' strive  together  with  Him  for  the  love 
of  the  Spirit."  (Rom.  xv.  30.) 

How  holy,  how  gentle.  His  leadings ; 
how  near  to  Christ ;  how  one  with  Him  ; 
how  abounding  with  love,  and  therefore 
with  joy,  peace,  and  hope— for  love 
reveals  to  us  all  secrets ;  loving,  we  are 
full  of  joy  in  the  object  of  our  love; 
eager,  bold,  glad,  for  we  have  but  one 
object  at  heart — to  love  and  show  that 
we  love  ;  and  already  we  are  triumphant, 
exultant  in  Him. 

Full  of  peace,  for  there  is  nothing 
unresting  ;  the  dove,  who  finds  rest  with 
Him,  wanders  no  more ;  the  wanderings 
were  too  sad,  too  lonely,  too  full  of  bitter 
cravings  and  impossibilities — now,  in  His 
presence,  there  is  fullness  of  joy — and 
He  continually — always — makes  that  one 
"full  of  joy  with  His  countenance;'* 
abundantly  satisfied,  full  of  peace  to  the 
very  centre.  Winds  may  blow,  and 
tempests  fall  with  terrible  violence,  yet 


28  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

the  soul — the  true,  real,  living  self — is 
still  at  peace,  unshattered,  untormented  ; 
because,  whatever  betides,  God  ^^  keeps 
those  in  perfect  peace  whose  minds  are 
stayed  on  Him,  because  they  trust  in 
Him"  (Is.  xxvi.  3);  and  our  mind,  still 
less  our  heart,  cannot  trustingly  be 
stayed,  except  where  we  love. 

Full  of  hope— for  the  past  life  tells  us 
that  what  has  been  shall  be — and  love 
exults  in  the  knowledge  that  "  goodness 
and  mercy  do  follow"  and  crown  every 
day  ;  and  not  only  that,  but  each  day 
leaves  a  full  grand  assurance  for  the 
future. — 

"Then  on  Thy  grandeur  I  will  lay  me  down, 
Already  life  is  heaven  to  me  ; 
No  cradled  child  more  softly  lies  than  I ; 
Come  soon,  Eternity."* 

For  whether  in  life  or  death,  nothing,  I 
am  persuaded,  shall  separate  us  from 
the  love  of  God,  which  is,  in  Christ 
Jesus,  shed  abroad  in  our  heart  by  the 
Holy  Spirit. 

*  Faber. 


IV. 


"  Give  thy  heart's  best  treasure. 
From  fair  nature  learn  ; 
Give  thy  love,  and  ask  not, 
Wait  not  a  return. 

"  And  the  more  thou  spendest, 
From  thy  little  store  ; 
With  a  double  bounty, 

God  shall  give  thee  more." 


A.  A.  Procter. 


"  Love  that  gives  its  own  for  naught, 
Is  like  the  God  of  Heaven." 


BESIDE  US. 


**  The  love  of  Christ  constraineth  us." — 2  Cor.  v.  14. 

"  Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these 
my  brethren,  ye  did  it  unto  Me" — Matt.  xxv.  40. 


TN  the  great  and  terrible  trials  of  life, 
the  anxious  and  dreaded  ones,  all 
who  are  Christ's,  know  what  it  is  to 
commit  them  to  the  love  and  wisdom  of 
God,  and  to  rest  on  Him.  I  will  not 
speak  of  these,  but  in  relation  with  the 
small,  insignificant  troubles  of  life,  let 
us  consider  this  word  of  the  King's — 
"  Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  unto  one  of  the 
least  of  these  My  brethren,  ye  did  it 
unto  Ale," 

Oh,  are  our  daily  lives,  the  blameless. 


32  THE  KING   OF  LOV^. 

loving  lives  that  become  the  children 
of  a  King  whose  name  is  Love  ?  Are 
they  gentle,  lowly,  humble-minded;  every 
action,  an  action  of  love  to  Him  ? 

For  such  they  may  be.  Spent  with 
JesuSy  such  they  must  of  necessity  be. 

But  then,  how  is  it  that  we  meet  so 
many  Christians  who  are  quick-tempered, 
ill-te  pered,  cross,  vain^  worldly-minded, 
irritable,  full  of  worries,  teasing,  abrupt, 
sarcastic,  rough,  to  be  approached  on 
some  subjects,  and  at  some  times,  with 
extreme  caution  ;  impatient,  ungracious, 
self-seeking,  ready  with  sharp  words, 
puffed  up,  easily  provoked,  ready  with 
scandal  and  unkind  gossip;  doubting, 
dark,  miserable,  desponding  ? 

These,  all  together,  are  much  ;  each 
taken  separately  is  called  "  a  very  small 
thing,"  and  a  '*  servant  of  Jesus  Christ " 
thinks  nothing  of  excusing  his  roughness, 
or  sharp  words,  or  want  of  forethought. 

But  oh !  ought  His  servants  to  be 
guilty  of  these  things  ?  Dear  friend, 
the  shame  you  bring  on  yourself  is  little ; 


BESIDE  US.  33 

it  is  nothings  in  comparison  with  the 
shame  you  bring  on  Christ  by  not 
honouring  Him. 

Do  you  belong  to  Cli^'isf,  and  are  you 
"  worried  to  death  ?  " 

Have  you  His  comforting  presence  and 
boundless  love,  and  can  any  one  and 
anything  "  put  you  out  in  a  minute  r " 

[May  you  be  full  of  joy  with  His 
countenance"  (Acts  iii.  28),  and  is  there 
"  nothing  worth  living  for  ? " 

Has  Christ  forgiven  you  all  your 
trespasses,  and  is  there  some  one  to 
whom  you  mean  "to  tell  out  your 
mind  ?  "  Did  Christ  "  not  please  Him- 
self r"  (Rom.  XV.  3)  ;  and  do  we  seek 
the  pleasantest  seat — the  warmest  corner 
— the  first  sight  of  a  new  book  ? 

Did  He  '^suffer  for  us^  leaving  us  an 
example  that  we  should  follow  His 
steps  "  (i  Peter  iii.  21);  and  do  we  grudge 
the  small  inconvenience  of  running  a 
message — laying  down  our  work,  or 
reading,  to  oblige  another  ?  When  He 
was  "reviled,  did  He  not  revile  again" 
D 


34  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

(i  Peter  ii.  23),  and  does  an  interruption 
in  an  important,  or  oftener  still,  in  an 
unimportant  occupation,  make  us  hasty 
and  irritable  ? 

Did  publicans  and  sinners  draw  near 
to  Him  to  find  and  meet  a  loving  wel- 
come, and  are  we  ungracious  and  sharp 
to  those  who  love  us,  and  whom  we 
love  ? 

Is  He  the  Author  of  that  love  which 
"covereth  a  multitude  of  sins  "  (i  Peter  iv. 
8),  and  are  we,  His  servants,  eager  with 
a  bit  of  scandal  because  it  is  amusing, — 
with  a  bit  of  unkind  gossip,  because  it 
passes  away  the  time  ? 

Oh,  what  is  the  reason  that  we  are 
so  un-Christlike ;  so  miserably  mean  and 
little,  and  with  it  all,  quite  ready  to  pass 
it  over  and  excuse  ourselves  ?  Surely  it 
is  the  want  of  love — surely,  love  to  Him, 
would  put  these  things  right,  for  the 
very  lowliest  and  humblest  act  may  be 
done  to  Him,  out  of  love  to  Him.  "  All, 
....  the  very  least  things  which  all 
must    do    every   day ;    which    our    Lord 


BESIDE   US.  35 

includes  under  the  name  of  *  daily- 
bread. '  So  that  we  may  stop  at  nothing 
short  of  all,  but  our  whole  being,  doing, 
thinking,  living,  willing,  having,  longing, 
be  wrapt  up,  gathered,  concentrated,  in 
the  one  will  and  good  pleasure  of  God."  * 

You  are  ready  for  His  service  ;  it  is 
the  delight  and  joy  of  your  life  to  work 
for  Him,  will  you  not  then  begin,  where 
perhaps  His  eye  will  rest  most  approv- 
ingly of  all  upon  you,  in  your  own 
narrow  circle,  and  live  such  a  life  of 
love,  as  will  make  men  wonder,  for 
the)^  will  see,  not  you,  but  Christ  living 
in  you. 

Think,  if  He  had  to  live  your  life, 
how  He  would  live  it  ?  What  gracious- 
ness,  what  gentleness,  what  obligingness, 
what  a  quickness  to  see  and  supply  the 
wants  of  others,  there  would  be ;  what 
loving  thought  before  correction,  what 
glad,  bright  sympathy  in  joy,  what 
tenderness  in  trouble  ? 

Are   you  not  ready  for   this,  for   His 

*  Dr.  Pusey. 


36  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

sake  r  Has  He  not  loved  you  enough  ? 
or  are  you  ready  for  a  great  sacrifice, 
and  reluctant  for  a  small  one  ?  Are  you 
anxious  to  serve  Him  in  much,  and  not 
ready  to  please  Him  in  little  ? 

"  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled  ^' 
(John  xiv.  i),  is  as  much  a  command  as, 
'*  Thou  shalt  not  steal ; "  but  it  seems 
as  if  very  many  never  even  think  that 
it  is  a  command  at  all ;  they  give  as 
a  sort  of  answer,  "  Oh,  but  I  have  so 
many  things  to  think  about  and  to 
trouble  me  !  "  Christ  did  not  forget  that 
you  would  have  those  "  many  things  " 
when  He  said  those  words,  and  yet  He 
said  them  twice  over.  These  things 
would  not  "trouble"  you,  if  you  were 
absolutely  living  with  Him ;  you  have 
no  right  to  hug  your  worries  and 
troubles,  as  if  they  were  a  very  im- 
portant part  of  your  Christian  life,  and 
showed  great  zeal  and  earnestness.  They 
are  not  so ;  they  are  a  great  hindrance 
to  your  growth  in  grace ;  a  great  dis- 
honour to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  yet  we 


BESIDE  US. 


37 


have  got  into  such  a  habit  of  troubling 
and  worrying  about  insignificant  little 
matters,  which  for  the  most  part  are 
sure  to  be  over  and  forgotten  before  to- 
morrow, that  we  think  them  a  necessity  : 
that  there  is  something  peculiar  about 
our  trials,  whi^h  makes  it  impossible  for 
us  to  take  them  calmly,  and  rest  them 
on  Jesus,  waiting  for  Hii/i  to  deliver  us. 

But,  we  may  get  rid  of  them  all.  We 
may  give  them  up,  tf  we  "mil.  When 
you  begin  to  worry,  it  is  not  that  Christ 
has  gone  away  from  you,  but  that  you 
have  shut  your  heart  away  from  Him. 
If  you  really  believed  that  He  who  is 
Love  and  Power,  were  witJi  you^  could 
you  be  so  foolish  ?  Would  you  not  rather 
turn  and  put  your  hands  in  His,  and 
look  into  His  blessed  face  of  Love  ? 

If  you  do  that,  trouble,  worry,  im- 
patience, will  melt  away,  for  though  He 
is  Love,  yet  are  His  eyes  as  "  a  flame  of 
fire."  The  fire  of  His  love  not  only  burns 
away  all  that  is  sinful,  but  strengthens 
that   which   is   weak    and    feeble — in   a 


38  THE  KING  OF  LOVE, 

word,  unites  us  to  Himself,  "  purifying 
us  even  as  He  is  pure."  (i  John  iii.  4.) 

Troubles  and  afflictions,  be  they  large, 
or  be  they  small,  are  not  sent  to  let  us 
worry  and  fret,  but  to  make  our  trust,  and 
confidence,  and  hope  in  God,  stronger 
and  stronger,  till  at  last  Hathing  shall  be 
able  to  take  us  from  Him.  Everything 
that  tends  to  strengthen  us  in  Him 
should  fill  us  with  encouragement. 

Perhaps  some  one  says  that  if  it  were 
for  Christ  alone  it  would  be  easy,  but 
that  worries  and  troubles  come  through 
others.  Yes,  it  is  so  ;  we  are  all — the 
very  best — only  '*  earthern  vessels  ;  "  but 
yet,  God  knew,  not  only  that  troubles 
would  come,  but  how  they  would  come, 
and  still  He  said,  "  Let  not  your  heart 
be  troubled." 

He  knew  there  would  be  temptations 
to  anger  and  need  for  forbearance,  and 
He  not  only  says,  '*  forbearing  one 
another,"  but,  "  forbearing  one  another 
in  love." 

He  knew  there  would  be  occasions  for 


BESIDE  US,  39 

vain-glory,  and  He  speaks  of  "  lowliness 
and  meekness."  He  knew  we  should  be 
tempted  to  impatience,  and  He  speaks  of 
"  long-suffering." 

He  knew  we  must  rebuke,  and  He  tells 
us  to  do  it  in  the  *'  spirit  of  meekness." 

He  knew  jve  must  sometimes  speak 
truths  that  are  not  pleasant,  and  He  tells 
us  of  **  speaking  the  truth  in  love." 

He  knew  we  should  be  tempted  to  be 
selfish,  and  He  tells  us,  "  Christ  pleased 
not  Himself." 

He  knew  that  we  should  be  tempted 
to  be  irritable  and  unsympathising, 
therefore  He  prays  "  that  the  God  of 
Patience  and  consolation  will  grant  us 
to  be  like-minded  one  lo  anolher  according 
to  (marg.  after  the  pattern  of)  Christ 
Jesus.  (Rom.  xv.  5.) 

Do  you  think  there  is  any  little  trouble 
He  cannot  overcome  ?  Only  give  your- 
self completely  and  absolutely  to  Him  ; 
ask  Him  to  be  especially  careful  about 
you  in  these  little  matters  ;  pour  out  your 
very  heart  and  soul  as  an  offering  to  Him, 


40  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

and  do  the  least  act  for  love  to  Him, 
and  you  will  find  Him  sufficient  for  all. 

Does  He  not  treasure  up  the  times 
when  from  your  love  to  Him  you  forbore 
to  speak ;  when  you  listened  patiently  to 
another  for  His  sake  ;  when  you  took  the 
last  place,  for  His  sake  ;  when  you  did 
that  uninviting  errand  for  His  sake  ; 
when  you  applied  yourself  to  that  dis- 
tasteful, fidgety  little  task  for  His  sake  ? 

Oh,  for  what  an  One  we  may  love  and 
live,  who  will  so  graciously  and  lovingly 
accept  these  little  offerings  !  Will  you 
make  them  for  His  beloved  sake  ?  and 
remember  for  your  comfort.  His  own 
words  : — 

"Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  unto  one  of 
the  least  of  these,  ye  did  it  unto  Me." 
When  you  thus  live,  how  natural  and 
true  will  you  find  it  to  repeat : — 

"  Ah  Jesus,  Jesus,  dearest  Lord, 

Forgive  me  if  I  say 
For  very  love,  Thy  sacred  name, 

A  thousand  times  a  day."  * 

*  Faber. 


**  Oh,  for  freedom,  for  freedom  in  worshipping  God, 
For  the  mountain-top  feeling  of  generous  souls, 

For  the  health,  for  the  air,  of  the  hearts  deep  and  broad, 
Where  grace,  not  in  rills,  but  in  cataracts  rolls. 

"Most  good  is  the  brisk  wholesome  service  of  fear, 
And  the  calm  wise  obedience  of  conscience  is  sweet ; 

And  good  are  all  worships,  all  loyalties  dear, 
All  promptitudes  fitting,  all  services  meet. 

"But  none  honours  God  like  the  thirst  of  desire, 
Nor  possesses  the  heart  so  completely  with  him  ; 

For  it  burns  the  world  out  with  the  swift  ease  of  fire, 
And  fills  life  with  good  works,  till  it  runs  o'er  the  brim. 

"  Then  pray  for  desire,  for  love's  wistfullest  yearning. 

For  the  beautiful  pining  of  holy  desire  ; 
Yes,  pray  for  a  soul  that  is  ceaselessly  burning, 

With  the  soft  fragrant  flames  of  this  thrice  happy  fire. 

"  For  the  heart  only  dwells,  truly  dwells,  with  its  treasure, 
And  the  languor  of  love  captive  hearts  can  unfetter ; 

And  they  who  love  God  cannot  love  him  by  measure, 
For  their  love  is  but  hunger  to  love  him  still  better. 

"  Is  it  hard  to  serve  God,  timid  soul  ?  Hast  thou  found 
Gloomy  forests,  dark  glens,  mountain-tops  on  thy  way  ? 

All  the  hard  would  be  easy,  all  the  tangles  unwound, 
Wouldst  thou  only  desire  as  well  as  obey. 


*•  For  the  lack  of  desire  is  the  ill  of  all  ills  ; 

Many  thousands  through  it  the  dark  pathway  have  trod, 
The  balsam,  the  wine  of  predestinate  wills 

Is  a  jubilant  pining  and  longing  for  God. 

"  'lis  a  fire  that  will  burn  what  thou  canst  not  pass  over; 

'lis  a  lightning  that  breaks  away  all  bars  to  love ; 
'Tis  a  sunbeam  the  secrets  of  God  to  discover  ; 

'Tis  the  wing  David  prayed  for,  the  wing  of  the  Dove. 

'*  I  have  seen  living  men — and  their  good  angels  know, 
How  they  failed  and  fell  short  thro'  the  want  of  desire  ; 

Souls  once  almost  saints,  have  descended  so  low, 

'Twill  be  much  if  their  wings  bear  them  over  the  fire. 

**  I  have  seen  dying  men,  not  so  grand  in  their  dying 
As  our  love  would  have  wished,  and  thro'  lack  of  desire. 

Oh  that  we  may  die  languishing,  burning,  and  sighing, 
For  God's  last  grace  and  best  is  to  die  all  on  fire. 

"  Oh  then  wish  more  for  God,  burn  more  with  desire. 
Covet  more  the  dear  sight  of  His  marvellous  face  ; 

Pray  louder,  pray  longer,  for  the  sweet  gift  of  fire 

To  come  down  on  thy  heart  with  its  whirlwinds  of  grace. 

"Yes,  pine  for  thy  God,  fainting  soul !  ever  pine, 
Oh,  languish  mid  all  that  life  gives  thee  of  mirth  ; 

Famished,  thirsty,  and  restless, — let  such  life  be  thine, — 
For  what  sight  is  to  heaven,  desire  is  to  earth. 

*'  God  loves  to  be  longed  for,  He  longs  to  be  sought, 
For  He  sought  us  Himself  with  such  longing  and  love. 

He  died  for  desire  of  us,  marvellous  thought ! 

And  He  yearns  for  us  now  to  be  with  Him  above." 

Faber. 


'*  And  here  we  offer  and  present  unto  Thee,  O  Lord, 
ourselves,  our  souls  and  bodies,  to  be  a  reasonable,  holy, 
and  lively  sacrifice  unto  Thee ;  and  although  we  be 
unworthy,  through  our  manifold  sins,  to  offer  unto  Thee 
any  sacrifice,  yet  we  beseech  Thee  to  accept  this  our 
bounden  duty  and  service  ;  not  weighing  our  merits,  but 
pardoning  our  offences,  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord." 


**  Accepted  in  the  Beloved." — Eph,  i.  6. 


AROUND  US. 

"DUT  beside  this  narrow,  daily  life, 
there  is  another — there  is  the  life  of 
active  service  in  which  we  take  part, 
whether  in  connection  with  or  apart 
from  our  own  home,  for,  knowing  Christ 
ourselves,  it  is  impossible,  but  that 
sooner  or  later,  in  some  way  or  other, 
we  find  means  of  bringing  others  to  know 
Him. 

God  has  given  to  each  their  own 
special  place ;  but,  oh,  are  we,  in  that 
place,  offering  the  very  highest  and  best 
service  to  Him — the  service  that  springs 
of  love  :  Love,  you  know,  is  never 
contented  with  less  than  the  very  best; 
it    is    quick    to    detect    possibilities    of 


46  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

service,  eager  to  follow  them,  strong  to 
bear,  attempts  what  is  even  beyond  its 
strength,  for  it  forgets  its  own  weakness 
and  unfitness,  resting  in  Him  who  is 
Strength,  and  Power,  and  Wisdom,  and 
stretches  out  to  fulfil  all  its  desire  and 
hope,  and  longing,  in  the  service  of 
Christ  its  Example.  He  came  as  "  ser- 
vant of  all,"  and  in  that  deep  lowliness 
proved  Himself  "first"  and  *' chiefest," — 
"  the  chiefest  among  ten  thousand."  And 
now  He  lives  everlastingly  the  Priest 
and  the  King  of  those  who,  following  in 
His  footprints,  strive  also  to  be  "  ser- 
vants of  ally'  that  they  may  completely 
be  "  the  servants  of  Jesus  Christ." 

And  what  footprints  !  But  for  love, 
none  surely  would  ever  dare  even  to  try 
the  art  of  placing  his  own  feet  within 
them ;  but  love  is  so  humble  and  brave, 
it  cannot  help  but  venture. 

We  read  of  the  Queen  of  Sheba, 
that  when  she  came  to  see  Solomon, 
she  brought  with  her  "  a  very  great 
train,  with  camels  that  bare  spices,  and 


AROUND   US.  47 

very  much  gold,  and  precious  stones." 
(I  Kings  X.  2.)  Such  was  the  custom  in 
the  East  when  visiting  princes  ;  the  first 
act  was  to  present  a  rich  gift :  so  did  Jacob 
send  a  present  down  to  Egypt  by  his  ten 
sons  ;  so  had  he  formerly  sent  to  Esau  ; 
so  did  the  Magi  bring  and  present  to  our 
Lord  ;  and  doubtless  the  noble  Queen  of 
Sheba  had  very  specially  prepared  a 
costly  gift  for  the  monarch  whose  fame 
had  so  attracted  her. 

Yet  we  read  nothing  of  it,  when  she 
appeared  before  him  ;  we  only  read  that 
she  "  communed  with  him  of  all  that  was 
in  her  heart" — for  perhaps  when  she 
saw  his  riches  and  gold  and  precious 
stones,  she  felt  the  gift  she  had  fancied 
so  great  would  be  as  nothing  where  all 
was  "riches  and  wealth,  and  honour," 
such  as  none  other  king  had  ever  had, 
and  such  as  none  would  ever  have  again. 
(2  Chron.  i.  12.) 

Everything  was  wonderful  to  her — 
even  "the  sitting  of  his  servants,  and 
the  attendance  of  his  ministers,  and  their 


48  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

apparel,  and  his  cup-bearers,  and  his 
ascent  by  which  he  went  up  unto  the 
house  of  the  Lord."  (i  Kings  x.  5.) 

She  was  a  Queen,  with  servants  and 
ministers,  and  yet  never  had  she  seen 
anything  like  it,  and  at  last  it  tells  us — 
"there  was  no  more  spirit  left  in  her." 
She  was  lost;  there  was  no  room  for 
self  any  longer,  now  that  she  knew  King 
Solomon  and  his  glory,  and  she  turns 
and  speaks  to  him  :  "  It  was  a  true  report 

that  I  heard and  behold,  the  half 

was  not  told  me  !" — and  yet  now,  for  the 
first  time,  she  hastens  to  bring  forth  her 
presents : — 

"A  hundred  and  twenty  talents  of 
gold "  (2  Chron.  ix.  9) ;  but  what  was 
that,  when  "the  weight  of  gold  that 
came  to  Solomon  in  6?;^^  ("  each"*)  year 
was  six  hundred  three  score  and  six 
talents  of  gold!"  (i  Kings  x.  14.)  "And 
of  spices  great  abundance  and  precious 
stones  "  (2  Chron.  ix.  9) ;  but,  "he  had  of 
the  merchantmen,  and   of  the  traffic  of 

♦  Wordsworth. 


AROUND   US.  4g 

the  spice  merchants,  and  of  all  the  kings 
of  Arabia,  and  of  the  governors  of  the 
country !  "  Yet  with  all  this,  "  neither  was 
there  any  such  spice  as  the  Queen  of  Sheha 
gave  Ki72g  Solomon*'  Surely  it  was  that 
"  because  of  the  savour  of  his  good 
ointment,  his  name  was  to  her  as  oint- 
ment poured  forth"  (Cant.  i.  3),  and 
therefore  in  his  presence  it  could  not  be 
otherwise  than  that  "  her  spikenard  sent 
forth  the  smell  thereof"  (Cant.  i.  12); 
little  and  small  in  themselves,  but 
weighty  with  love,  she  brought  her 
lowly  offerings,  not  because  of  herself 
but  because  of  the  king. 

So  w^ill  it  be  with  us, — of  what  value  is 
our  service  ?  Of  what  worth  our  ignorant 
faltering  work  ? 

Of  what  worth  ? 

In  our  eyes  of  none,  yet  still  we  offer  it 
because  of  love ;  and  see  what  He  says 
of  one  in  whom  His  love  thus  brings 
forth  service  : — 

"I  have  compared  thee,  O  my  love, 
to  a  company  of  horses  in  Pharaoh's 
E 


50  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

chariots  "  (Cant.  i.  9)  ;  and  Pharaoh's 
horses,  perfect  in  strength,  alert  to 
obedience,  were  each  one  worth  "  150 
shekels  of  silver/'  (2  Chron.  i.  17.) 

"  Thy  cheeks  are  comely  with  rows  of 
jewels  ; "  that  is,  *'  comely  through  rny 
comeliness  which  /  had  put  upon  thee, 
saith  the  Lord."  (Ezek.  xvi.  14.) 

**Thy  neck  with  chains  of  gold," — for 
precious  indeed  to  Him,  is  the  faith 
which  unites  each  believer  to  the  Head. 

"  Behold,  thou  art  fair,  my  lov^e ; 
behold,  thou  art  fair,  thou  hast  doves' 
eyes,"  for  though  in  times  past  **  ye  have 
lien  among  the  pots,"  now  are  ye,  '*  as 
the  wings  of  a  dove  covered  with  silver, 
and  her  feathers  with  yellow  gold." 
(Ps.  Ixviii.  13.) 

Is  not  the  service  of  one,  thus  loved 
and  cared  for,  and  who  can  return  for 
all  answer,  "  Behold,  Tho7L  art  fair  my 
Beloved"  (Cant.  i.  16);  is  it  not  precious 
— is  it  not  to  Him  as  "  none  other  spice  ?  " 
Listen  how  he  asks  for  it : — 

"  O  my  dove,  that  art  in  the  clefts  of 


AROUND   US.  51 

the  rock,  in  the  secret  places  of  the 
stairs,  let  me  see  thy  countenance,  let  me 
hear  thy  voice  ;  for  sweet  is  thy  voice  and 
thy  countenance  is  comely."  (Cant.  ii.  14.) 
"  Thy  voice  sweet  and  thy  countenance 
comely  ? "  How  then  in  His  service  will 
it  attract ;  how  will  it  command  ;  how 
beseech ;  how  implore ;  how  rejoice ; 
how  weep ;  not,  perhaps,  with  great 
words  of  eloquence,  but  as  *'  a  still  small 
voice,"  simple  and  natural ;  speaking  of 
the  things  it  has  heard  and  seen  and 
looked  upon — in  truth  and  love,  heart 
answering  to  heart.  Love,  with  winged 
feet,  seeking  the  unloving  and  unlovely. 
Love,  carrying  the  gospel  of  glad-tidings 
to  those  who  do  not  care  to  seek  it. 
Love,  entreating  those  who  have  for- 
saken their  first  love  to  return,  for  "  the 
Lord's  hand  is  not  shortened  that  He 
cannot  save,  nor  His  ear  heavy  that  He 
cannot  hear."  Love,  "  feeding  the  flock 
of  God.  .  .  .  taking  the  oversight  thereof 
.  .  .  willingly.  .  .  .  and  of  a  ready  mind  " 
(i   Peter,  v.  2);    forgetting   self,  mindful 


52  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

only  of  the  chief  Shepherd  and  the  flock 
— His  flock.  Love,  seeking  to  draw  out 
the  living  water,  Sunday  by  Sunday,  to 
the  class  which  is  dull  and  heavy,  which 
is  giddy,  which  seems  unimpressible. 
Love,  daily  teaching,  unobserved,  in  the 
quiet  school.  Love,  laid  aside,  yet  there 
*'  helping  together  by  prayer."  (2  Cor.  i. 
2.)  Love,  plying  the  arduous  task  of 
showing  gentleness  and  firmness,  and,  if 
may  be,  healing,  to  the  sick  in  body. 
Love,  not  slothful,  diligent,  just  and  true 
in  business.  Love,  obeying  and  serving 
earthly  masters  in  singleness  of  heart. 
For  all  service— lowly  or  high,  small  or 
great  —  nothing  but  love,  love,  love. 
Love  from  God,  bringing  out  love  to 
Him ;  Love  for  God  causing  love  to  our 
neighbour. 

"Herein  is  love,  not  that  we  loved 
God,  but  that  He  loved  us.  .  .  Beloved, 
if  God  so  loved  us,  we  ought  also  to  love 
one  another.  If  we  love  one  another, 
God  dwelleth  in  us,  and  His  love  is 
perfected  in  us.     God   is   love,    and   he 


AROUND   US.  53 

that  dwelleth  in  love,  dwelleth  in  God, 
and  God  in  him'*  (i  Jno.  iv.  lo,  ii, 
12,  1 6.)  Love  then  is  the  preparation, 
the  commencement,  the  continuance  of 
service. 

To  some,  their  work  is  apparent;  not 
sought  perhaps  —  or  perhaps  it  is 
sought ;  however  it  be,  it  is  from  God, 
of  God. 

With  others,  it  is  not  so  apparent — 
still  perhaps,  to  be  undertaken.  It  is  to 
be  for  the  God  you  love — it  is  to  be  for 
those  who  love  Him — it  is  to  be  for  those 
who  love  Him  not. 

It  is  to  be  for  these,  and  yet,  all  the 
time,  it  will  imperceptibly  mould  and 
fashion  you  for  your  mansion  that  is 
preparing,  the  house  eternal  in  the 
heavens,  for  though  now  "  in  building  " 
it  is  built  "  of  stone  made  ready  before  it 
is  brought  thither ;  so  that  there  is  neither 
hammer,  nor  axe,  nor  any  tool  of  iron 
heard  in  the  house,  while  it  is  in  build- 
ing." (i  Kings  vi.  7.)  All  is  perfected 
that  enters  there.     "  Earth  is  the  work- 


54  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

shop  where  God  makes  men ;  Heaven  is 
the  palace  where  He  shows  them."  * 

What  service  of  love  is  to  be  yours  ? 
There  were  many  different  services  in  the 
house  of  the  Lord  of  old,  among  whom, 
"  were  very  able  men  for  the  work  of  the 
service  ofthe  house  of  God."  (i  Chr.ix.  13.) 
Keepers  of  the  gates  and  entry-porters, 
rulers,  those  set  over  the  vessels,  singers, 
harpers,  and  many  other  offices  ;  all  per- 
formed as  to  the  Lord  ;  all  of  God  ;  and 
many  are  pictures  of  lowly  acts  of  love 
that  we  may  perform  :  but  the  most  im- 
portant of  all  was  the  service  of  the 
priests — it  v/as  the  highest,  the  fullest, 
the  most  sacred. 

We  know  the  King  of  Love — we  love 
Him ;  has  our  love  carried  us  to  the 
uttermost  limits,  to  the  greatest  possibi- 
lities of  service  to  Him  ?  Honourable  is 
the  career  of  a  soldier  in  the  ranks  ;  but 
what  of  him  w^ho  rises  to  command  ? 

Have  we  chosen,  rather,  have  we  ac- 
cepted, the  very  highest  God  will  bestow 

*  From  a  sermon. 


AROUND   US.  55 

upon  us  r  Are  we  shrinking  back  from 
a  place  wherein  the  love  of  God  is  ready 
to  place  us,  because  we  deem  ourselves 
unfit  for  it  r  Is  there  some  special  place, 
needing  a  worker,  beyond  oitr  capabili- 
ties (but  who  that  may  live  and  rely 
on  God  will  measure  his  own  powers), 
and  none  to  enter  in  and  work  there,  and 
shall  we  not,  for  His  sake,  step  forward, 
and  fill  up  the  gap  ?  Is  there  not  some- 
times more  true  humility  in  fulfilling  a 
hard  and  difficult  task  than  in  drawing 
back  and  renouncing  it  ? 

I  do  not  see  how  we  can  ever  draw 
back,  if  we  believe  that  the  Lord  will 
open  to  us  His  good  treasure. 

St.  Paul,  writing  to  the  Colossians, 
prays  that  they  may  "  be  filled  with  the 
knowledge   of  His   will,   in  all  wisdom 

all  pleasing   .  .  .  all  might  .  .  . 

all  patience  and  long-suffering,"  and  the 
reason  this  is  possible  for  us  is,  that  it 
is  not  of  self — but — "  according  to  His 
glorious  power."  (Col.  i.  9,  10,  11.)  "Is 
not  this  destructive  of  the  grasshopper 


S6  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

system  ?  Do  you  remember  what  that 
is  r  Let  us  read  the  report  of  the  un- 
faithful spies.  (Num.  xiii.  33.)  *  We  zvere 
in  our  own  sight  as  grasshoppei's^  and  so  we 
were  in  their  sight'  God's  people,  to- 
day, as  of  old,  sadly  elevate  self,  and 
debase  their  Lord,  when  they  take  the 
position  of  grasshoppers  in  the  presence 
of  the  giants  with  whom  they  have  to  do 
battle.  Never  can  it  be  true,  except 
when  we  go  a-warfaring  on  our  own 
charges." 

Our  God  will  teach  each  the  truth  of 
these  things  for  his  own  individual  work ; 
only,  let  us  not  miss  the  highest  that  He 
will  bestow  ;  let  us  measure,  not  self,  but 
the  power  of  Christ,  and  also,  what  is  fit 
service,  for  a  service  of  love,  to  a  King 
of  Love  ;  let  us  aim  at  all  that  is  likest 
and  nearest  to  Him,  Love.  Let  us  re- 
member He    is    the    "faithful   witness" 


AROUND   US.  57 

(Rev.  i.  5),  and  let  us  be  faithful  wit^- 
nesses  to  Him  ;  '*  faithful  unto  death  " 
'(Rev.  ii.  10)  ;  not  only  unto  the  death  of 
the  body,  but  unto  the  death  of  which  St. 
Paul  speaks,  when  he  says  :— "  I  protest 
by  your  rejoicing  which  I  have  in  Christ 
Jesus  /  die  daily"  (i  Cor.  xv.  31);  then 
shall  we  wear  "  a  crown  of  life,"  even 
here,  as  well  as  in  the  world  to  come. 

He  is  *'  the  first-begotten  from  the 
dead,"  and  let  us  offer  to  Him,  not  only 
our  first-fruits,  but  the  whole  harvest  of 
our  being. 

He  is  "  the  Prince  of  the  Kings  of 
the  earth,"  and  let  us  live  as  those 
whom  He  shall  not  be  "  ashamed  to  call 
brethren." 

He  hath  loved  us  and  washed  us  from 
our  sins  in  His  own  blood,  and  hath  made 
us  "  kings  and  priests  mito  God  and  His 
Father." 

'« Kings  unto  God,  we  may  not  doubt  our  power, 

We  may  not  languish  when  he  says,  '  Be  strong,'— 
We  must  move  on  through  every  adverse  hour. 
And  take  possession  as  we  pass  along. 


58  THE  KING   OF  LOVE, 

"Yes,  all  is  for  us — nothing  shall  withstand 
Our  faithful,  valiant,  persevering  claim  ; — 
The  rod  of  God's  Anointed  in  our  hand, 
And  our  assurance  His  unchanging  name. 

"  We  need  no  haste,  when  He  has  said,  '  Be  still ' — 
No  peace  where  He  has  charged  us  to  contend  ; 
Only  the  fearless  love  to  do  His  will, 
And  to  show  forth  His  honour  to  the  end, 

•'  O  ye  that  faint  and  die,  arise  and  live  ! 

Sing  ye  that  all  things  have  a  charge  to  bless  ! 
If  he  is  faithful  who  hath  sworn  to  give, 
Then  be  ye  faithful  and  possess. 

*'  Take  thy  whole  portion  with  thy  Master's  mind — 
Toil,  hindrance,  hardness,  with  his  virtue  take — 
And  think  how  short  a  time  Ihy  heart  may  find 
To  labour  or  to  suffer  for  his  sake."  * 


Will  you, accept  the  office  ? 


♦  L.  A.  W. 


VI. 


'*  There  is  a  secret  in  the  days  of  God,  with  His  own 
children,  which  sweetens  all  He  does." 


IN   STILLNESS. 

**  To  you  it  is  given  in  the  behalf  of  Christ,  not  only  to 
believe  on  Him,  but  also  to  suffer  for  His  sake." — Phil. 
ii.  29. 

A  SPECIAL  gift  of  love  are  those 
suffering  seasons  which  God  is  apt 
to  give  to  His  own. 

Once  it  was  the  service  of  love,  now  it 
is  the  rest  of  love. 

The  absorbing  work  and  interest  must 
be  laid  aside ;  what  was  bound  so  close 
must  be  unloosed  ;  that  which  seemed  to 
depend  on  you  must  do  without  you ;  the 
place  that  none  other  could  fill  must  be 
supplied  by  another  ;  and  you  ?  you  must 
be  still  and  suffer.  But  what  is  that 
when  it  comes  of  love  r 

"  I  could  from  all  things  parted  be, 
But  never,  never,  Lord,  from  Thee." 


62  THE  KING  OF  LOVE. 

We  read  in  St.  Luke's  gospel  that 
short  story  in  the  life  of  Mary  and 
Martha ;  Martha  was  busy  about  much 
serving,  Mary  *'  sat  at  Jesus'  feet,  and 
heard  His  word."  Both  parts  were 
acceptable  to  God,  but  only  07ie  was 
needful ;  and  Jesus  calls  it  *'  that  good 
part  which  shall  not  be  taken  away  from 
her." 

Service  He  may  give,  and  He  may 
take  away,  but  the  ^*  quiet  abode  at  His 
feet"  is  yours  for  ever.  And  how  do 
you  know  to  what  wondrous  blessing 
God  will  lead  you — to  what  revelations 
of  Himself  now  that  you  are  laid  by — 
unable  for  work,  in  stillness,  and  perhaps 
in  suffering ;  fit  for  no  outward  tumult 
and  bustle  ;  only  able  to  listen  to 
His  voice,  and  not  to  that  sometimes ; 
but  even  then  you  are  not  forsaken, 
for— 

**  Leaning  on  Jesus  breast,"  * 
"  There  ti:e  weary  be  at  rest."  f 


John  xiii.  25.  f  Job  iii.  17. 


IN  STILLNESS,  63 

Perhaps  you  fancied  these  still  hours 
and  days — possibly  months,  or  even 
years — were  to  be  dry  and  arid,  but 
"  they  thirsted  not  when  He  led  them 
through  the  deserts,*'  for  where  He  is  ^'  the 
desert  blossoms  as  the  rose."  (Ps.  48,  21.) 
**  The  thirsty  ground  shall  become  a 
pool,  and  the  thirsty  land  springs  of 
water;  in  the  habitation  of  dragons, 
where  each  lay,  shall  be  grass,  with 
reeds  and  rushes."  (Isa.  xxxv.  7.) 

How  cool,  how  resting,  and  satisfied. 
Truly,  "  My  people  shall  be  satisfied 
with  my  goodness,  said  the  Lord." 
(Jer.  xxxi.  14.) 

Have  you  accepted  your  gift  of  still- 
ness and  suffering,  or  turned  away 
because  it  was  not  to  your  taste  ?  Are 
you  looking  upon  it  as  a  hard  painful 
thing  given  you  to  bear,  and  have  you 
been  looking  so  exclusively  at  the  lesson 
that  you  have  forgotten  the  teacher  ? 
You  cannot  be  too  faithful  to  the  lesson, 
but  be  as  faithful  to  Him  who  teaches  it. 
"  He  knows  the  learner  as  well  as  the 


64  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

lesson,"*  and  "Every  good  and  every 
perfect  gift  is  from  above,  and  cometh 
down  from  the  Father  of  Lights,  in  whom 
is  no  variableness,  nor  shadow  of  turn- 
ing." (Jas.  i.  17.)  His  heart  is  full  of 
love,  and  tenderness,  gentleness,  and 
compassion,  as  He  draws  you  aside  in 
the  wilderness,  and  bids  you  take  Him- 
self as  your  portion  ;  and  what  deep, 
soft,  tender  pictures  He  gives  of  Himself, 
that  none  may  say, — I  am  too  weak,  too 
timid  ;  a  mother  comforting,  a  hen  brood- 
ing over  her  chickens  and  covering  them 
with  her  feathers,  an  eagle  bearing  her 
little  ones  upwards  on  her  own  wings. 

So  this  quiet  time  is  a  special  gift  of 
love,  to  be  accepted  and  laid  at  His  feet, 
and  then  lifted  "rejoicing  in i7/!> strength," 
and  borne  as  a  crown,  bestowed  upon 
you  to  beautify  you  in  His  eyes,  to  adorn 
you  in  His  sight ;  to  fit  you  for  Himself; 
to  satisfy  you  with  His  love. 

Yes,  that  is  it ;  quietness  in  itself,  for 
any  length  of  time,  would  be  unbearable ; 

*  From  a  Sermon. 


IN  STILLNESS.  65 

but  quietness  with  the  one  we  love  best, 
who  can  measure,  who  can  tell  the 
satisfaction  ?  How  much  we  are  willing 
to  miss,  to  lose,  to  forego,  that  we  may 
be  with  that  one  ;  how  we  hunger  for 
that  companionship,  and  has  it  not  long 
been  an  eager  cry  of  yours, — "  the  com- 
panions hear  Thy  voice,  cause  me  to  hear 
it?"  (Cant.  viii.  13.) 

Oh,  He  is  going  to  speak  to  you  now, 
so  wondrously ;  He  has  made  it  very 
still  and  quiet,  and  do  you  not  love 
Him  enough,  do  you  not  want  and 
need  Him  enough,  to  be  content  for 
a  short  time  to  do  nothing  but  receive 
from  Him  ? 

"  To  give  than  to  receive  more  blest, 

Thou  said'st:  Oh,  Thou  giver  free  ! 
Good  measure,  shaken  down  and  press'd 

Together,  now  I  ask  from  Thee  ; 
Oh  !  give  to  me,  dear  Lord,  and  still 

Increase  thy  boons,  make  broad  the  place 
Where  Thou  dost  dwell  in  me,  and  fill 

My  hands  with  gifts,  my  heart  with  grace  ; 
But  let  me  look  upon  thy  face, 

What  need  to  mourn  if  thou  on  mine 
But  little  comeliness  should  trace  ; 

When  love  can  give  me  all  of  Thine ; 

F 


66  THE  KING   OF  LOVE, 

The  loved  are  fair,  the  loved  are  dressed 
In  garments  rich  and  fresh  and  rare ; 

Oh  !  bless  Thou  me,  and  I  am  blest ! 
Oh  ;  love  Thou  me,  and  I  am  fair."  ♦ 

"  He  maketh  me  to  lie  down  in  green 
pastures  "  (Ps.  xxiii.  2),  "  satisfied  with 
favour,  and  full  with  the  blessing  of  the 
Lord."  (Deut.  xxxiii.  2}^.) 

*  Dora  Greenwell, 


VII. 


**  Joy, — peace  in  flower." 

From  a  Sermon. 

*<  Of  all  the  lights  you  carry  in  your  face,  joy  will  reach 
the  furthest  out  to  sea." 

H.  W.  Beecher. 

"Be  much  with  God  and  your  face  will  shine,  let  all 
men  see  the  new  creation." 

Bramwell. 


JOY  IN  HIM. 

T  J  E  says, — "  He  will  rejoice  over  thee 
with  joy  ;  He  will  rest  in  His  love  ; 
He  will  joy  over  thee  with  singing*' 
(Zeph.  iii.  17) ;  and  if  you  know  the  least 
little  bit  of  this,  can  you  keep  from  joy 
yourself  ? 

If  there  is  the  music  of  love  in  your 
heart,  there  will  be  joy  in  your  face,  joy 
in  your  words,  joy  in  your  ways. 

Christ's,  bought  with  the  price  of  His 
most  precious  blood  ;  redeemed,  sanc- 
tified, kept  by  the  power  of  God,  we 
have  good  cause  to  ''joy  and  rejoice." 
(Phil.  ii.  17.) 

Who  should  be  so  bright,  who  so  glad, 
who  so  rejoicing  as  those  who  "know 


70  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

the  king  in  His  beauty,"  who  know  His 
love,  for  whatever  our  path,  whether  of 
service  or  rest  or  suffering,  whether 
lowly  or  great,  the  same  song  flows 
through  it ; — love. 

Yes,  those  who  are  His  have  some  one 
in  whom  they  do  well  to  rejoice  ;  the 
thought  of  self  has  past  and  daily  passes 
away,  and  being  at  liberty  from  that 
slave  and  hindrance,  they  can  joy  "  in 
the  Lord." 

Oh,  there  is  so  much  said  about  joy, 
for  God  has  given  us  such  a  portion  in 
Himself  as  the  heart  cannot  contain ; 
think  of  it,  Himself — **  A  well  of  water 
springing  up  into  everlasting  life " 
(John  iv.  14) ;  and  this  to  be  "  in"  us  !  Is 
it  any  wonder  that  this  "  sweet  affection 
of  the  soul "  *  to  Christ  bursts  forth, 
joying  to  be  united  to  Him,  joying  in 
the  union,  joying  in  all  that  brings  glory 
and  honour  to  Him,  joying  in  the  joy 
yet  to  be.     Is  it  any  wonder  that  David 

*  Cruden. 


JOY  IN  HIM.  71 

cries  out,  "  God,  my  exceeding  joy  J' 
(Ps.  xliii.  4.) 

We  read  of  the  "joy  of  the  Lord 
being  our  strength."  (Neh.  viii.  10.) 

Of  having  Christ's  "joy  fulfilled"  in 
us.  (John  xvii.  13.)  Of  "joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost"  (Rom.  xiv.  17),  and  "joy  of  the 
Holy  Ghost."  (i  Thes.  i.  6.)  Of  "joy"  as 
a  fruit  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  (Gal.  v.  22.) 

Do  we  think  enough  of  it  ?  If  not, 
surely  it  is  that  we  do  not  think  enough 
of  Christ,  for  He  is  so  lovely  that  at  the 
thought  of  Him  joy  cannot  help  itself, 
but  springs  up  unbidden. 

Let  us  see  where  joy  is  to  be  with  us  r 
The  source  is  above — in  the  Father,  the 
Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost.  It  flows  down 
and  springs  up  in   us,  first  in   our  soul. 

"  My  sold  shall  be  joyful  in  the  Lord  " 
(Ps.  XXXV.  9)  ;  and  then  it  bursts  forth  in 
the  heart ;  "  My  servants  shall  sing  for 
joy  of  heart''  (Ps.  Ixv.  14);  then  it  flows 
out  in  praise.  "  My  mouth  shall  praise 
thee  with  joyful  lips"  (Ps.  Ixiii.  5);  and 
the  feet  are  strengthened  and  *'  leap  for 


^^  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

joy"  (Luke  vi.  23);  and  "everlasting 
joy  is  on  their  heads."  (Isa.  li.  1 1.) 

It  does  not  cease  because  of  earth's  sor- 
rows and  troubles,  for  even  "  the  widow's 
heart  sings  for  joy."  (Job  xxix.  13.) 

"They  that  sow  in  tears  shall  reap  in 
joy"  (Ps.  cxxvi.  5);  and  He  gives  them 
"  the  oil  of  joy  for  mourning  "  (Isa.  Ixi.  3). 
He  even  "turns  their  mourning  into  joy." 
(Jer.  xxxi.  13.)  The  Lord  Jesus,  "for 
the  joy  that  was  set  before  Him  endured 
the  cross "  (Heb.  xii.)  ;  and  therefore 
tells  His  disciples  that  their  sorrow 
shall  be  turned  into  joy."  (John  xvi.  20.) 
All  this  because  our  joy  is  to  be  in  the 
Lord  and  not  in  self,  not  in  any  other. 

The  sorrows  of  life  and  the  joy  in  the 
Lord  flow  on  side  by  side,  and  every 
vaca  nt  place  in  your  heart  He  wiWJilt  with 
His  love  and  joy,  for  what  cannot  He  do  ? 

"I  must  have  all  things,  and  abound, 
While  God  is  God  to  me." 

The  more  you  have  of  LLiin,  the  more 
you  will  find  you  have  this  joy ;  do  not 
seek  it  but   Him.     "To   know   Him   is 


JOY  IN  HIM.  73 

the  strength  of  obedience  and  the/iTK  of 
communion."  *  "  Joy  of  God  is  the 
strength  of  work  for  God  ;  work  for  God 
is  the  fixing  of  joy  in  God  ;  "f  but  do  not 
seek  the  circumference  and  so  miss  it, 
through  not  finding  the  centre. 

It  is  joy  in^  not  apart  from  the  Lord, 
and  since  you  yourself  are  "  in  the  Lord," 
"enter  thou  into  His  joy.'* 

Can  you  read  the  103rd  Psalm  and  not 
be  joyful  ?  Look  at  what  is  contained  in 
it.     There  are  two  parts  to  be  noticed. 

The  Lord's  part  and  our  part.  Within 
me  ;  iniquities,  diseases,  a  life  in  danger 
of  destruction,  a  hungry  mouth,  a  youth 
fainting  and  aging,  oppression,  sins, 
transgressions,  a  feeble  frame,  altogether 
nothing  stronger  than  dust"  (Ps.  ciii. 
I,  2,  3,  4,  10,  12,  14),  and  we  feel  it  no 
wonder  that  this  poor  nature  of  ours 
seeks  that  for  which  it  has  a  natural 
affinity,  and  that  David  in  another  place 
says — "My  soul  cleaveth  to  the  dust," 

Then  how  shall  we  loose  the  soul  and 

*  Adolph  Saphir.  f  From  a  Sermon. 


74  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

cause  it  to  spring  from  the  dust,  and 
*'  mount  up  with  wings  as  eagles  " 
(Isa.  xl.  31),  seeking  and  searching 
straight  into  the  face  of  Light  ?  Just 
by  looking  on  the  Lord's  part  in  your 
soul,  for  it  is  to  them  that  'Svait  on  the 
Lord"  that  He  reveals  Himself.  You 
are  waiting — ^are  you  willing  to  receive  ? 
Let  us  see  what  is  said  of  Hivi  in  the 
103rd  Psalm  :  we  have  looked  quite  long 
enough  at  self.  We  find  that  for  every 
need  in  us  He  has  a  corresponding — no, 
not  corresponding — an  overflowing  ^yyi^^^Xy 
to  meet  it.  He  "  forgiveth,"  "  healeth," 
*'redeemeth,"  "crowneth  with  loving- 
kindness  and  tender  mercies,"  *'  satis- 
fieth,"  "  reneweth,"  so  that  there  is  no 
failing  old  age  in  spiritual  life,  but 
strength  and  vigour  ever  increasing. 
He  is  "merciful,"  "gracious,"  "will  not 
always  chide,"  "  hath  not  dealt  with  us 
nor  rewarded  us  according  to  our  sins." 
"  He  hath  removed  our  transgressions  ;  " 
how  far  r — from  north  to  south  ?  No, 
that  is  not  far  enough — they  are  actual 


JOY  IN  HIM.  75 

definite  points — but  from  "  east  to  west;" 
for  however  far  you  follow,  however  fast 
you  travel,  the  west  will  always  sink 
before  you,  and  the  east  will  rise  in  the 
far  distant. 

Beside  this.  He  "  pitieth "  us  ;  He 
^^  k?tow£th"  this  poor  frame  of  ours;  He 
ever  "  remembereth  "  that  we  are  dust — 
"  A  bruised  reed  shall  He  not  break,  and 
the  smoking  flax  shall  He  not  quench." 
(Isa.  xlii.  3.)  "  The  crooked  shall  be 
made  straight,  and  the  rough  places 
smooth."  (Isa.  xl.  4.) 

So  you  see  however  low  down  you  are, 
God  turns  it  all  to  good — you  can  never 
be  too  low  for  Him.  Do  you  feel  very 
low  : — Yes  ?  Well,  He  knew  you  would, 
and  has  given  you  a  message — ^' I  d^vell 

with  him   that   is  of  a   contrite 

and  humble  spirit."  (Isa.  xv.)  Why  does 
He  dwell  there  ?  Just  to  lift  you  up  above 
it  all,  "  to  revive  the  spirit "  and  to  "  re- 
vive the  heart ;  "  and  you  know  you  ivill 
be  revived  with  Him  dwelling  there ; 
Him, — ^joy,  strength,  comfort,  love. 


76  THE  KmG   OF  LOVE. 

Oh !  what  a  blessed  dwelling  it  will 
become.  Was  it  lonely  and  sad  ?  *'  The 
wilderness  and  the  solitary  place  shall 
be  glad  for  them."  (Isa.  xxxv.  i.)  Was 
it  arid  and  barren,  and  full  of  straggling 
poisonous  weeds  ?  "  The  desert  shall 
rejoice  and  blossom  as  the  rose.  It 
shall  blossom  abundantly,  and  rejoice 
even  with  joy  and  singing;  the  glory  of 
Lebanon  shall  be  given  unto  it,  the 
excellency  of  Carmel  and  Sharon :  they 
shall  see  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  and  the 
excellency  of  our  God."  (Isa.  xxxv.  2,  3.) 
"Ye  shall  go  out  with  joy,  and  be  led 
forth  with  peace  :  the  mountains  and 
hills  shall  break  forth  before  you  into 
singing,  and  all  the  trees  of  the  field  shall 
clap  their  hands.  Instead  of  the  thorn 
shall  come  up  the  fir-tree,  and  instead  of 
the  brier  shall  come  up  the  myrtle-tree." 
(Isa.  Iv.  12,  13.) 

Were  you  weak  and  feeble,  and  of  a 
fearful  heart  ?  Here  is  a  command, 
whereof  you  may  rejoice  and  be  exceed- 
ing glad, — you  are  no  longer  to  look  at 


JOY  IN  HIM.  77 

the  "weak  hands,"  the  "feeble  knees," 
the  " fearful  heart :  "  ''Be  strong,  fear 
not."  (Isa.  XXXV.  4.)  Why  ?  being  as  I 
am,  how  can  such  things  be  ?  "  Behold, 
your  God  ....  God  .  ...  He  will  come 
and  save  you."  (Isa.  xxxv.  4). 

And  He  being  come,  the  eyes  that 
strove  so  hard  to  see,  but  were  only 
dazed  by  the  light,  receive  their  sight ; 
the  sight  of  Hini  gives  the  sight  to  see 
all  else. 

The  ears  that  listened  and  heard  with- 
out understanding,  are  unstopped,  and 
the  tender  blessed  name  and  voice  of 
Jesus  falls  like  music,  and  whispers  love, 
joy,  and  peace. 

The  halting,  limping  man,  who  knew 
not  what  way  to  go,  what  voice  to  obey, 
"leaps  as  an  hart;"  for  the  way  in 
which  he  goes,  though  it  is  "  the  way  of 
holiness,"  yet  if  he  even  be  "  a  fool,  he 
shall  not  err  therein."  (Isa.  xxxv.  8) : 
and  surely  the  reason  is  that,  "Thus 
saith  the  High  and  Holy  One  that  in- 
habiteth  eternity,  whose  name  is  Holy, 


78  THE  KING  OF  LOVE. 

I  dwell  in  the  high  and  holy  place" 
(Isa.  Ivii.  15)  ;  and  being  there  with  Him, 
"  in  His  light  we  also  see  light." 

And  then  the  tongue  that  was  so  silent 
and  tied,  and  spoke  but  anguish  and 
woe,  sorrow  and  disappointment,  what 
of  it  ?  "  The  tongue  of  the  dumb  shall 
singy' — yes,  it  has  something  whereof  to 
sing  and  rejoice  ;  for  waters  have  broken 
out,  and  streams  flow  through  the  land — 
"  A  well  of  water  springing  up  unto 
everlasting  life"  (John  iv.  14);  rivers  of 
living  water"  (John  vii.  :>)S)',  ^*  And  it 
shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day  that  the 
mountains  shall  drop  down  new  wine, 
and  all  the  hills  shall  flow  with  milk, 
and  all  the  rivers  of  Judah  shall  flow 
with  waters,  and  a  fountain  shall  come 
forth  of  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  shall 
water   the  valley  of   Shittim."   (Joel  iii. 

18.)  _ 

This  is  a  prophecy,  a  promise  of  bless- 
ing when  God  "  shall  bring  again  the 
captivity  of  Judah  and  Jerusalem  "  (Joel 
iii.    I ) ;    but   perhaps   we,    who    are    the 


JOY  IN  HIM.  79 

house  of  the  Lord,  the  temple  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  may  find  an  application  to 
ourselves — and  let  us  follow  it  up.  Shall 
we  also  "  water  the  valley  ? "  Shall  the 
light  and  the  joy  and  the  brightness  of 
"  Christ  in  us "  attract  and  draw  those 
that  are  weary  and  tired  ?  draw  them  to 
the  fountain  of  life  from  which  we  slake 
our  thirst  ? 

Oh,  let  it  be  so  ;  let  us  win,  let  us 
draw,  let  us  claim  for  Christ  by  the  joy 
of  our  life.  *'  He  that  winneth  souls  is 
wise "  (Prov.  xi.  30)  ;  and  '*  our  power 
in  drawing  others  after  the  Lord  rests 
mainly  in  our  joy  and  communion  with 
Him  ourselves."* 

Oh,  let  us  not  miss  this  ivinniug;  "  that 
if  any  obey  not  the  w^ord,  they  may  with- 
out the  word  be  won  by  the  conver- 
sation." (i  Pet.  iii.  I.) 

Oh,  we  who  have  been  so  blest,  we 
who  are  so  filled  and  loved,  let  us  draw 
others  to  love  and  joy. 

We  know  what  trouble  and  grief  and 

*  From  a  Sermon. 


8o  THE  KING  OF  LOVE. 

distress  are  ;  we  know  what  it  is  to  be 
empty  and  void  and  waste;  we  know 
what  it  is  to  have  our  ^^  soul  melted  because 
of  trouble"  (Ps.  cvii.  26):  but  now  He 
has  brought  us  into  our  desired  haven — 
the  haven  where  they,  if  they  did  but 
know  it,  would  also  be.  He  has  brought 
us  out  *'  into  a  wealthy  place ; "  let  us 
show  how  rich  and  full  and  satisfied  we 
are  ;  and  it  is  one  of  the  strange  things 
of  God's  kingdom,  that  if  another  comes 
to  share  these  same  riches,  we  too  feel 
ourselves  to  grow  richer. 

And  then  at  the  last — "  The  ransomed 
of  the  Lord  shall  return,  and  come  to 
Zion  with  songs  and  everlasting ]oj  upon 
their  heads :  they  shall  obtain  joy  and 
gladness,  and  sorrow  and  sighing  shall 
flee  away."  (Isa.  xxxv.  10.) 


VIII. 


''  All  joys  harmonised." 

l^BiM  A  Sermon. 


The  peace  of  Christ  makes  fresh  my  heart, 

A  fountain  ever  springing ; 
All  things  are  mine  since  I  am  his, — 

How  can  I  keep  from  singing  ?  " 


PEACE. 

"The  Peace  of  God." 

T^HIS  is  deeper  than  joy ;  we  may 
be  without  joy  ;  we  cannot  be  with- 
out peace,  if  we  are  His ;  for  where  the 
"  Prince  of  Peace  "  governs,  there  must 
be  peace  ;  and  is  it  not  blessed  that  ''  of 
the  increase  of  His  ....  peace  there 
shall  be  no  end  ?  "  (Isa.  ix.  9.) 

Therefore,  hearken  unto  Him,  and 
then  shall  "thy  peace  be  as  a  river" 
(Isa.  xlviii.  18),  deep,  and  still,  ever 
flowing  on  to  the  ocean  of  love. 

If  the  heart  is  full  of  love,  there  must 
be  peace;    "Love  is  our  zveight,"  *  and 

*  St.  Augustine. 


84  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

that  weight  balances  us,  and  holds  us 
firm  through  all  that  would  otherwise 
toss  us  to  and  fro  on  the  waves  of  this 
troublesome  world. 

Christ  gave  us  a  *'  twofold  peace  when 
He  left  this  earth — one  a  legacy,  the 
peace  of  the  cross  ;  the  other  a  gift,  com- 
munion with  a  risen  Saviour  ; "  and  it  is 
this  peace  of  His,  which,  because  it 
"  passes  all  understanding,  keeps  our 
hearts ;  "  it  is  a  sort  of  covenant  and  re- 
membrance between  us  and  Him,  that 
lies  deep  in  our  hearts,  full  of  blessing 
and  grace. 

''  The  God  of  hope  fill  you  with  all  joy 
and  peace  in  believing,  that  ye  may 
abound  in  hope  through  the  power  of 
the  Holy  Ghost."  (Rom.  xiv.  15.)  "Joy 
and  peace,"  because  you  "know  in  Whom 
you  have  believed ;  "  it  is  no  wavering, 
uncertain  trust,  but  stayed  on  God. 
"  Oh  God,  my  heart  is  fixed,  my  heart  is 
fixed ^  I  will  sing  and  give  thanks."  Held 
in  His  hand,  in  His  heart,  "  His  left 
hand  under  your  head,  his  right   hand 


PEACE.  8s 

embracing  you  "  (Cant.  ii.  9) ;  surely  it  is 
indeed  peace. 

**  Resting  in  Him,  and  waiting  pa- 
tiently for  Him^'  it  is  peace. 

"Risen  with  Christ,"  and  yet  ''hid 
with  Him,"  it  is  peace. 

"Knowing  the  love  of  Christ,"  it  is 
peace  ;  and  it  is  the  "  God  of  peace  who 
shall  bruise  Satan  under  your  feet. 
(Rom.  xvi.  20.) 

The  "  God  of  peace  who  shall  sanctify 
you  wholly."  (i  Thes.  v.  23.) 

The  "  God  of  peace  who  shall  make 
you  perfect,  stablish,  strengthen,  settle 
you  (Heb.  xiii.  20),  and  the  "  God  of 
peace  shall  be  with  you."  (Phil.  iv.  9.) 

Can  you  say  but  that  He  "  maketh  peace 
in  all  thy  borders,  and  filleth  thee  with 
the  finest  of  the  wheat?"  (Ps.  cxlvii.  14.) 

This  peace  is  just  a  simple  full  heart- 
rest  in  Christ.  The  turbulent  eagerness 
of  joy  may  pass,  but  it  passes  only  to 
deepen,  just  as  the  waters  of  a  great  river 
bubble  and  rise,  rushing  with  full  strength 
and  life,  eager  to  meet  what  lies  before, 


86  THE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

and  you  find  them  again  far  far  away ;  the 
same  waters,  the  same  life,  but  oh,  what 
a  depth !  how  bright,  how  full,  how  con- 
centrated. How  perfectly  they  give  back 
the  reflection  of  the  skies !  stilly  Avith 
fulness  of  life.  So  with  the  spiritual  life  : 
there  is  a  quiet  fixing  of  joy  in  God, 
which  has  brought  peace,  a  peace  which 
nothing  can  disturb,  for  it  is  founded  on 
a  Rock,  and  that  Rock  is  Christ. 

True,  the  surface  may  still  quiver  and 
toss,  lifted  with  storm  and  wind ;  still  it 
may  ripple  and  smile,  and  exult  in  the 
breeze,  but  the  great  volume  beneath  is 
still. 

There  is  room  for  all  where  the  foun- 
dation is  sure  and  steadfast. 

"  Blessed  are  the  single-hearted,  for 
they  shall  enjoy  much  peace,"  says 
Thomas  a  Kempis,  and  surely  that  gives 
us  the  root.  A  "single"  heart  enjoys 
this  wondrous  peace,  for  its  object,  aim, 
desire,  is  but  one — Christ — "to  know 
Him;  "  and  it  presses  onward  towards 
its  mark,  free  and  unshackled,  and 
unembarrassed. 


PEACE.  87 

What,  if  in  that  knowing  of  Himself^ 
Christ  has  added  a  glimpse  of  the^'  fellow- 
ship of  His  sufferings?"  ^Phil.  iii.  10.) 
*'To  you  it  is  given  in  the  behalf  of 
Christ."  Have  you  watched  with  Him 
"  one  hour  ?  "  Once  He  prayed  that  some 
would  "watch  with  Him  one  hour  ;"  but 
their  eyes  were  heavy  with  sleep,  for 
they  knew  Him  not  perfectly  then,  and 
when  He  came  for  comfort  He  found 
them  sleeping. 

Did  He  come  to  you  and  find  you 
waking  r  perhaps  ^*  willing  agai^ist  your 
will,''  perhaps  praying  His  own  prayer, 
"  Father,  if  it  be  possible  remove  this 
cup  from  me/'  and  He  loved  you  so.  He 
stayed  you  up  against  yourself;  he  added 
the  full  blessing  from  which  you  shrank, 
and  for  which,  as  you  look  back,  you 
thank  and  praise  Him,  though  you  dared 
not  pray  for  it. 

"  Knowledge  by  suffering  entereth, 
And  life  is  perfected  in  death." 

What  knowledge  has  suffering  brought 
to  you  ?    Much,  doubtless ;  but  above  all, 


88  JHE  KING   OF  LOVE. 

has  not  the  slender  thread  of  love  (which, 
nevertheless,  seemed  then  great  and 
strong)  that  bound  you  and  your  life 
and  your  God,  has  it  not  grown  a  mighty 
knotted  cable — strong  as  death  ?  And 
perhaps  it  is  the  suffering  more  than 
aught  else,  that  has  brought  to  your 
consciousness  this  wondrous  revelation 
of  God's  love,  and  that  has  harmonised 
the  joys  into  "perfect  peace.'* 

Perfect  peace,  still  and  ever  increasing; 
"the  peace  of  God^  which  passeth  all 
understanding."  The  darkness  and 
shadows  find  no  place,  they  flee  away ; 
all  is  love,  all  is  peace — 

"  •  •  •  white  and  pure,  with  sunniest  affections, 
Full  from  the  face  of  Christ ; 
And  both,  across  the  sun  besilvered  tide, 
Help  to  the  haven  where  the  heart  would  ride." 


IX. 


"  It  was  not  that  our  love  was  cold, 

That  earthly  lights  were  burning  dim  ; 
But  that  the  Shepherd  from  His  fold 
Had  smiled,  and  drawn  them  unto  Him. 

**  Praise  God,  the  Shepherd  is  so  sweet ! 
Praise  God,  the  country  is  so  fair ! 
We  would  not  hold  them  from  His  feet  ; 
We  can  but  haste  to  meet  them  there." 


And  then,  with  Him  go  hand  in  hand, 
Far  into  bliss." 

Dean  Alford. 


'All  that  life  is  Love." 

St.  Bernard. 


THE  NEW  HOME. 

"  T  O,  a  great  multitude,  which  no  man 
could  number.  .  .  These  are  they 
which  came  out  of  great  tribulation,  and 
have  washed  their  robes  and  made  them 
white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  There- 
fore are  they  before  the  throne  of  God, 
and  serve  Him  day  and  night  in  His 
temple :  and  He  that  sitteth  on  the 
throne  shall  dwell  among  them.  They 
shall  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst  any 
more;  neither  shall  the  sun  light  on 
them,  nor  any  heat :  for  the  Lamb  which 
is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne  shall  feed 
them,  and  shall  lead  them  unto  living 
fountains  of  waters  :  and  God  shall 
wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes." 
(Rev.  vii.  4,  17.) 


92  THE  KING  OF  LOVE. 

''  These  are  they  which  follow  the 
Lamb  whithersoever  he  goeth.  These 
were  redeemed  from  among  men,  being 
the  first-fruits  unto  God  and  the  Lamb. 
And  in  their  mouth  was  found  no  guile, 
for  they  are  without  fault  before  the 
throne  of  God.  .  .  Yea,  they  may  rest  from 
their  labours,  and  their  works  do  follow 
them."  (Rev.  xiv.  4,  5,  13.) 

"  Blessed  are  they  which  are  called 
unto  the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb." 
(Rev.  xix.  9.) 

"  There  was  no  more  sea.  .  .  God  shall 
wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes ;  and 
there  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither 
sorrow,  nor  crying,  neither  shall  there  be 
any  more  pain.  .  .  No  temple  therein — no 
need  of  the  sun,  neither  of  the  moon  to 
shine  in  it.  .  .  No  night  there  ...  in  no 
wise  enter  into  it  anything  that  defileth 
.  .  .  no  more  curse  ...  no  night  .  .  . 
no  need  of  candle,  neither  light  of  the  sun." 
(Rev.  xxi.  I,  4,  22,  2Z,  25,  27  ;  3,  5.) 

"  God  wilf  dwell  with  them,  and  they 
shall  be  Llis  people,  and  God    Himself 


THE  NEW  HOME.  93 

shall  be  with  them,  and  be  their  God.  .  . 
The  Lord  God  Almighty  and  the  Lamb 
are  the  temple  of  it  .  .  .  the  glory  of  God 
did  lighten  it,  and  the  Lamb  is  the  light 
thereof  .  .  .  the  throne  of  God  and  of  the 
Lamb  shall  be  in  it,  and  His  servants 
shall  serve  Him  ;  and  they  shall  see  His 
facCy  and  His  name  shall  be  in  their  fore- 
heads. The  Lord  God  giveth  them  light, 
and  they  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever." 
(Rev.  xxi.  3,  22,  23  ;  xxii.  3,  4,  5.) 

"  Come  thou  biight  and  holy  morning, 
Lord,  our  Sun  arise  ; 
Send  the  angels  of  Thy  coming, 
Thro'  the  silent  skies."  * 


E.  F.  B. 


"If  we  hope  for  that  we  see  not,  then  do  we  with 
patience  wait  for  it." — Rom.  viii.  25. 


''*  Oh,  to  be  there  !  ' 

Where  never  tears  of  sorrow 
Shall  dim  the  eye,  nor  aching  pain,  nor  care 
Shall  ever  cloud  our  morrow, 

Oh,  to  be  there ! 

"  Oh,  lovely  home  ! 
Thy  fragrant,  thornless  flowers 
Droop  not,  nor  die, — but  everlasting  bloom 
Crowns  all  thy  golden  hours, 

Oh,  lovely  home ! 

*'  Oh,  let  me  go  ! 
Death  shall  not  there  dissever 
Our  loving  hearts, — Rivers  of  pleasure  flow 
At  God's  right  hand  for  ever,  . 
Oh,  let  me  go  ! 

"For  Thou  art  there. 
Who  unto  me  hast  given 
Eternal  life,  making  me  pure  and  fair : 
And  this  to  me  is  Heaven 

That  THOU  art  there." 


BOSTON : 

Printed  by  T.  R.  Marvin  &  Son, 
27  cornhill. 


^   - 


^'  '. 


1    1012  01004  4297 

Pi 


